Posts tagged suspension

Point 84: We Are CoRE

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by Kenny Hughes

Photos by Kendra Jane B.

January 18, 2001 was the night where my performance art journey began and in many ways it’s what brought me to where I am today. My piercer at the time (and little did I know, soon to be mentor of a failed apprenticeship) asked me if I wanted to head to Houston to see some body suspensions. I’d already been doing research on the subject for many years via the internet and various publications, but never had the pleasure of witnessing a suspension in person. To say that 19 year old me was thrilled about going is a bit of an understatement. Entering the renowned #’s Night Club that night for the first time would leave me forever changed.

It wasn’t long after entering that I began to recognize faces that I had been stalking on BME over the last several years. These people may as well have been celebrities to me at the time, and actually just like today, I was too much of a weirdo to introduce myself. Soon there was some guy in a lizard suit on stage playing with fire and walking on glass… but it was no suit. This was my first time seeing the Lizard Man in person. We didn’t chat that night, but later he would help me and other members of the troupe with fire manipulation. Then there were the Jager Tour visits; that’s another story though. With a bit of a lengthy wait between sets, which would become a bit of an unfortunate trademark, I was a witness to the birth of CoRE. This was also my introduction to performance art in person.

The performers slowly came out and took their respective places. There were four separate suspension points for this mobile that represent the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. I was enthralled by the tedious job of rigging the suspendees to their rigs. Nothing at all compared to the breathtaking rigging that can be seen today; it was nothing short of captivating. Soon we could hear the all too familiar gut-wrenching noise of the chain hoist over the music, but this only meant one thing it was time to take flight.

The suspensions that night were vertical (Suicide), horizontal face-down (Superman), horizontal face-up (Coma), and knees. I found each one more exciting than the previous. The swinging, the stretching of the skin, and the blood, all mixed with the performance; the makeup, and the music all held my attention until the last person was cut down.

I got so much more out of that night than I ever thought possible. I just expected to go see some guys hang from  hooks, but  unknown to me at the time, the performance aspect brought it all to another level. Until you witness it yourself (in person) for the first time, you will never comprehend the gamut of emotions that can run through you as you are a part of such an event. It can bring laughter and extreme happiness and then make you cry for no damn reason like you never have before. For the following decade of my life I had the extreme pleasure of making observers feel this way with some of the best people I’ll ever have in my life.

A few months later, the same friend took me to Taurian to visit with the director of CoRE and, at the time, the Vice President of the APP, the incomparable Steve Joyner. Steve had already had a big influence on me, and that only grew in the years after as I had the pleasure of working directly with him. This man has done more for the piercing industry than what seems possible for a single person and he will never be equalled. If there was some otherworldly super hero for piercers it would be him. Even though we may have our differences from time to time, it is an honor to call him a friend and colleague. This visit is also the first time I met the skinny, dreamy, dread-locked Byriah Dailey. Byriah was the owner of Taurian, the head engineer for CoRE, and would many years later become my mentor in body jewelry manufacturing and piercing. He is still to this day my favorite person on this planet and the best piercer I know. If I owed my career to any one person, it would be this man.

After some discussions of future piercings and other things we grabbed some fliers for an upcoming CoRE show and were on our way. It was after that second show that I contacted Steve again and discussed what I had to do to become part of the troupe. I was quickly invited to come to their meetings and see how we all got along. It wasn’t long before I was doing my first suspensions both privately and for performances.

Soon CoRE was travelling across the country and at times other continents to perform for the world. From small art galleries in Paris to performing in front of well over a hundred thousand people at music festivals and yes, there was that one night at the Playboy Mansion. One of my personal favorite shows was one where we were battling fire breathing robots. This also happened to be the occasion where a reporter asked Kali, everyone’s favorite S&M body piercer turned Christian revivalist, if he was crazy, to which he replied, “yes, and I have the papers to prove it.”

All of this became the jump start to my piercing career. I’ve had people from the other side of the world contact me and tell me how I’ve helped them accomplish things in their lives that they never thought possible. It was always my intention and still is to this day to show the world how beautiful you can be. By pushing our own boundaries in life and art, we inspire others to explore their own. With enormous amounts of blood, Houston, Texas sweat, and tears this is what performance art is to me.

We are CoRE.

Mannequins dressed in CoRE ritual costumes and paraphernalia on display at this year’s BPA exhibit.
Photo by Matte Erickson

Point 84: CoRE-Constructs of Ritual Evolution

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The following is a blog post on the International Suspension Alliance website entitled “We Are CoRE” dated 9/13/2010:

““I try to remove bricks off the wall of society. In my lifetime, I will probably remove one brick from that wall, and that’s the whole point of this.” –Steve Joyner

Trying to write about Constructs of Ritual Evolution, or CoRE as you might know them, may be one of the most challenging subjects I have taken on. I think a lot of that comes from the fact that what they are doing on stage is more about what you personally take away from it than anything else. It’s emotion; it is about making you think. The beautiful pictures here can’t begin to do justice to watching the real thing and no amount of words could tell you what you would experience seeing it in person. I’m just here to tell you who they are and what they do. As for the rest… well, you would just have to see them yourself to figure that one out.

With an anniversary right around the corner, CoRE is coming up on ten years of performing, educating, and evolving into what it is today. What they are may be the trickiest question to answer. Are they performance art or suspension, actors or educators? The simple answer is all of the above. For as much as they put into entertaining the crowds on stage, just as much is put into their work with the suspension community. With links on their website to educational resources and their classes that range from cross contamination and aftercare to suspension safety, saying that education is an important part of what they do would be a drastic understatement. They take time to attend suspension conventions worldwide, traveling everywhere from Dallas to Israel to share what they know and with the classes he has taught through the Association of Professional Piercers and Professional Piercing Information Systems, CoRE’s founder and director Steve Joyner is a familiar face among both the suspension and piercing communities. Even the live show is a chance for them to teach through their actions on stage. Steve worded it best when he said that whether or not you consider yourself an educator, every time you step on stage, the people in that audience are taking with them what you have done.

CoRE founder Steve Joyner conducting a tour of the BPA exhibit at the APP Conference in 2018.
Photo by Matte Erickson

As for what to expect from CoRE’s live show, it tells us stories that could be taken differently by each person in the audience. Like any good work of art, it is made to reach you on a very personal level. They have worked to bring us something far greater than just people hanging from hooks, what they do on stage is nothing short of breathtaking. Having a cast of performers that range from elegant belly dancers and contortionists to bold and daring fire-breathers and suspension artists, CoRE’s show encompasses a unique blend of rituals, suspensions, and stage performance. Their well coordinated use of light and sound to compliment the acts on stage adds yet another dimension as you watch the show. With a rehearsal schedule that could rival Cirque du Soleil’s, this certainly isn’t just a group fooling around on stage. Every act is carefully prepared, edited, and rehearsed with special attention to the safety and well being of all of those involved.

I am so excited to see what the next ten years has in store for this remarkable group of people. I know we will continue to see many more shows coming up for CoRE in the future and if you have the chance to see them live be sure not to miss out on the opportunity to witness a spectacular performance by this one-of-a-kind theatrical group. You can keep up with upcoming dates, news, and educational events on their website We Are CoRE.

Thank you so much to everyone in CoRE for what you have given to all of us, both inside the suspension community and out. A special thank you to Patricia and Steve for being such a huge help in writing this article.

https://www.facebook.com/wearecore/

The Point – Issue 84

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Point 83: Santa Sangre Body Rituals

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By Darkam & Beto

Santa Sangre Body Rituals Manifesto

Let us be quiet for a second and listen to the Gods sleeping. They sleep through the daylight madness and the hidden obligations. Their yawns loud enough to open canyons and generate stars. Dreams made of sticky pollen, bees embroidering eternal paths. There, the bedtime stories are made of ancient ropes, each knot its own tale. There, blood is the most precious gift, and it’s used to write ancient stories.

Santa Sangre Body Rituals

Darkam and Beto (Kukulcan Rituals) make the two pillars of Santa Sangre Body Rituals. Their different backgrounds and perspectives join to create a parallel world in which their art, performances, rituals, and music yield something that is larger than life.

Beto has Mexican roots, and is deeply connected to his pre-Hispanic heritage. He started experimenting with body suspensions 14 years ago and has worked in 38 different countries as a performer, private body suspender, and lecturer. He also does hand poked tattoos and scarifications.

Darkam started as a piercer 15 years ago in Italy while conducting her research in visual arts, where she studied drawing and illustration. She currently works as an illustrator, comic artist, and tattooist.Hermetic magic, alchemic symbolism, and the ancient pagan rituals have always been a great source of learning and inspiration for her.

In 2015 the Santa Sangre Body Rituals project sprang to life. Mixing symbolism from different backgrounds, they reinterpret ancient legends and folklore. Old tales reflect our archetypes, thus bringing us to the very foundation of human perception.

Through their thorough narrative structure, detailed research, and accurate cultural and anthropological stories, they turn their performances into an enchanting moment for the audience.

But all this works as a trigger; a way to achieve the contact within oneself, to our deepest emotions, those that are part of our human and individual history. These emotions are ingrained in us, central to our body, written in the blood, and bring with them an evocative force.

Photo by Tattoo Nysa

Each performance is unique and is never repeated the same way. Everything, from the costumes to the music, is carefully chosen to support the narrative.

When an audience is new to body modification practices, body suspension may be perceived as something brutal. This is why Santa Sangre Body Rituals like to play with opposites; to show that suspension is not only related to pain and suffering but that it can be a path to spiritual elevation:

  • That blood can be a powerful offering, as it used to be in ancient times.
  • That beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.
  • That the red string that Japanese believe to connect souls, can be made of blood.

Santa Sangre Body Rituals mix visual arts as live paintings that extend beyond the given canvas such as during their unique collaboration with body suspending opera singer Joa Helgesson. They hope to continue bringing the shows to unfamiliar and academic contexts in the future.

Photo by Tattoo Nysa
Photo by Recycl’Art

www.santasangrebodyrituals.com

Point 83: Suspensions (D.T.)

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By Daniel Thomas

Collaborative installation
by Stelarc & Håvve Fjell
Håvve Fjell
Shadow Suspension, Dallas Suscon, 2013.
Photo: Luna Duran

There is a movement of suspensions being used as a contemporary art form, but it’s definitely not a new concept. A Cyprus-born, Australian performance artist named Stelarc was creating artwork with suspension since the ‘70s before the modern suspension movement was really even a thing. Stelarc had some breathtaking work. For me, his 1980 installation of “sitting/swaying” at the Tamura Gallery in Tokyo, Japan will always have a place in my heart for its pure beauty. Stelarc began with 18 rocks equalling his weight attached to a circle of eyebolts in the ceiling, using ropes with slip knots. The other end of each rock was attached to a hook in Stelarc’s skin. As the performance began with Stelarc sitting in the center of the circle, each slip knot was released and he was lifted, slowly swaying until his body was completely counterbalanced in a seated position.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in the creation of many of my visions for suspension and the visions of my dearest friends. One of my first real experiences with exhibiting suspension to the public as an art form was in early 2014. I had just moved to Christchurch, New Zealand – a city of around 375,000 people. Christchurch had been hit with a series of earthquakes that demolished the majority of their city. It was obvious that one of the coping strategies the city used was making art. The suspension team I was a member of, Skindependent, was asked to install a suspension inside a shipping container that had been converted into a downtown art gallery. We suspended one of our team members in a horizontal position facing down with lines filling the entirety of the container. The suspension was carefully designed and mapped out by our team leader, Eden Thomson. I was quite nervous about being involved in this because of the possible reactions. There were definitely some ruffled feathers from this creation, but the majority of the people were receptive and full of questions about what suspension was. I remember being uplifted by all the beautiful conversations with complete strangers about why we choose to suspend, and subsequently, we even inspired a few people to be suspended by the team later that year. I didn’t really think much of this; I just put it down to the people of Christchurch being more open-minded, and maybe because the Skindependent team had already been creating beautiful suspensions for many years prior.

Skin Project, New York City 2015
Suspension facilitated by myself,
Misty Forsberg, and skin attendees
Photo by Lippie mfg

Each time that I was involved in a public demonstration with artistic suspension, this pattern continued, no matter where in the world we were. I would get a bout of anxiety about possible negative reactions, but they would never materialize. People were always so curious and open-minded. I only truly realized the effect that artistic suspensions could have after designing, and helping to create, a suspension at the Skin Project in New York City. Skin is an annual event, hosted by the Anchors Aweigh team, bringing practitioners from around the world together to create a gallery-style production. This event has done a great deal for the development of artistic suspension and continues to push boundaries each year for what is possible within this art form, but for me, this pushed boundaries in my own family. I come from a loving and supportive family, but they have made it clear that suspension is something that they would rather I was not involved in. After the event, I posted some photos online of this suspension and I received messages I never expected to see. My mother, father, and grandmother had all individually sent me messages of praise that meant so much to me. It wasn’t the praise that meant a lot; it was the beginning of acceptance of my involvement in something that I love so much.

I believe artistic suspension has a very special purpose and that is to create a form of wider acceptance for what we do. To me, suspension is a beautiful, empowering act. I see it in an entirely different light than the general public. People tend to see it as a form that is tortuous and is linked to a purely sadistic/masochistic motive. Often just the idea of suspension evokes emotions that will turn people’s stomachs and set boundaries that will prevent them from ever wanting to see this act.

I believe that art itself encourages us to challenge our own boundaries. People view art, not only for its ability to be visually pleasing, but also its thought-provoking nature, allowing us to act differently when something confronts us.

For those who suspend, regardless of the reason, it becomes more than just an act you do. It is something that becomes a crucial part of your identity, so finding a way to bridge that gap is exceptionally important. Ask a suspension practitioner what their favourite part of suspending a first-timer is and often their response will be, “that first suspension smile”, the look on the suspendee’s face when their feet first leave the ground and the realization that they have done something that moments ago, they were more than likely telling themselves was entirely impossible. I can’t even count the number of times that I have facilitated a suspension for someone and later heard that their elation of self-empowerment had been crushed by some degree of strain within the relationship between them and their family, even though they found it to be a positive, uplifting experience. I don’t think suspension will ever be something that is completely off the taboo list, particularly in a society that is constantly seeking comfort, and rejecting the idea of pain having any positive connotations. Regardless, I love the idea that working with beautiful lines can create a piece of art that attaches to the hooks, facilitating the ability for people to see suspension for the beauty it has behind the eyes of the suspendee.

The Point – Issue 83

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Point 79: 12th Italian SusCon, 2016

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Bruno Valsecchi

English Version

The twelfth edition of the SusCon took place this year September from the 18 to the 20 in Tirrenia, Pisa, a convenient location we have used for a long time. The Conference was good, with 45 suspensions facilitated as well as pulling between six people. On a highly positive note, 30% of our suspendees were newbies, a sign that the cultural practice of corporal suspension is expanding.

Besides Italians, we had participants from Germany, Spain, Norway and New Zealand. The suspension groups that made the whole event possible were APTPI-ST and Wings of Desire (from Norway), whose leader Havve Fjell will officially be presenting the 3rd Symposium on corporal suspension, which will be held in Berlin this May.

As usual, during the three days of the Conference, theoretical lessons were offered. This year we had the honor to host Paul King; professional body piercer since 1991 and one of the few to hold the title of Master Piercer, given by Jim Ward in 1996. He is an active member of the APP and an avid student of ethno-anthropology, as well as the anthropology of the body modification community, having lectured on these topics at various universities.

Paul presented the “Traditions of Hook Swinging in South Asia,” “Suspension of Belief and Piercing Rituals of Plains,” and “Sundance.” The subjects were very interesting and much appreciated. They highlighted other points of view on the practice of suspension, especially with regard to the ritual purpose. Another novelty for this year saw some of the attendees participate in a social and anthropological study, led by the anthropologist Federica Manfredi. She is researching the reasons and feelings involved for those who suspend. From this research they will produce 12 individual projects, all different and all unique and personal.

A special “thank you” to all of the participants in our SusCon, speakers, sponsors, and especially all the volunteers that make this a reality each year. At every event, we see a lot of passion and dedication, rewarding us all with an emotionally engaging gathering.

We can’t wait for next year, with even more surprises planned!

Italian Version

La dodicesima edizione dell’Italian SusCon si è svolta quest’anno dal 18 al 20 settembre a Tirrenia, Pisa, comoda location ormai da molto tempo.

Ancora una volta la partecipazione è stata buona, con 45 sospensioni effettuate durante il convegno ed un pulling tra 6 persone. Nota altamente positiva, il 30 % dei suspendees erano neofiti, segno che la cultura della pratica della sospensione corporale si sta espandendo, anche e soprattutto tra i più giovani.

Oltre agli italiani, si segnalano partecipanti provenienti da Germania, Spagna, Norvegia e Nuova Zelanda; i gruppi di sospensione che hanno reso possibile tutto l’evento sono APTPI-ST e Wings of Desire (Norvegia), il cui leader, Havve Fjell, ha presentato ufficialmente il 3° Simposio sulle sospensioni corporali che sarà tenuto a Berlino nel maggio 2017.

Come di consueto, durante i 3 giorni del convegno, si tengono anche delle lezioni teoriche: abbiamo avutol’onore in questa edizione di ospitare Paul King, body piercer professionista fin dal 1991 ed insignito del titolo di Master Piercer da Jim Ward nel 1996. Membro attivo dell’APP, è anche avido studioso di etnoantropologia e di antropologia delle modificazioni del corpo e su questi argomenti ha tenuto diverse lezioni in varie Università.

Da noi ha proposto: “Traditions of Hook Swinging in South Asia,” Suspension of Believe and Piercing Rituals of Plains,” and “Sundance;” gli argomenti sono stati molto interessanti ed apprezzati, ed hanno messo in luce altri punti di vista sulla pratica della sospensione, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la finalità, non ludica ma rituale.

Altra novità, alcuni partecipanti hanno realizzato un progetto a sfondo sociale ed antropologico, condotto dall’antropologa Federica Manfredi, che ricerca i motivi, ma anche le sensazioni, che intervengono in chi si sospende. Dopo aver contattato alcune persone, ha stabilito una consegna: cercare, attraverso un’opera artistica, di rappresentare cosa, o come, la coscienza elabori l’atto di sospendersi. Sono stati così prodotti 12 progetti, tutti diversi e tutti unici e personali nel taglio e nella realizzazione, che ha coinvolto molto intensamente isoggetti.

Doveroso ringraziare tutti i partecipanti al SusCon, i relatori e gli sponsors, ma soprattutto tutti i volontari che rendono ogni anno tutto questo una realtà.

Vedere e sentire tanta passione e dedizione per una pratica apparentemente poco usuale e male accettata dalla comunità, ricompensa da ogni fatica e contribuisce a rendere questo evento così emotivamente coinvolgente dal punto di vista umano e culturale.

Vi aspettiamo alla prossima edizione, con altre sorprese!

Point 74: Italian SusCon 2015

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Sunset beach suspension at Italian SusCon 2016

APTPI logoITALIAN SUSCON 2015

(Italian Original)

Dal 20 al 22 settembre 2015 si è svolta a Tirrenia (Pi) italia l’11ma edizione dell’italian suscon, seminario sui rituali di trazione e sospensione corporale. anche quest’anno i partecipanti sono stati numerosi, circa 75 persone, provenienti da diverse parti del mondo come italia,norvegia,stati uniti,israele e germania.

Quest’anno abbiamo avuto come relatori un pionere delle sospensioni corporali come Fakir Musafar e il dott. Franco di palma. Fakir Musafar padre delle sospensioni e modifiche corporali moderne dagli usa e per la prima volta in Italia, ha presentato il viaggio personale che lo ha portato a sperimentare e sviluppare antiche pratiche rituali antropologiche portandole nella cultura contemporanea. Il dott. Di palma, neurologo, invece ha trattato nella sua lezione “il dolore” spiegandone il significato, i suoi benefici e come il nostro cervello reagisce ai suoi stimoli.

Bruno and Fakir huging at Italian SusCon 2016Durante l’evento sono state effettuate 35 sospensioni e a differenza delle edizioni passate quest’anno e’ stata data un’impronta piu’ rituale vista la partecipazione di fakir. E’ stato organizzato un rituale, “moon dance”, sulla spiaggia al quale hanno partecipato circa 40 persone. Ogni partecipante dopo essersi fatto inserire due ganci nel petto e dopo una meditazione spirituale personale ha partecipato in primis ad una preghiera collettiva, poi in fila indiana, tutti si sono diretti in spiaggia al tramonto dove ogni partecipante e’ stato agganciato ad un unico anello centrale. Ognuno poteva cosi’, sentirsi legato materialmente a tutti i partecipanti. L’atmosfera era magica e spiritale e il pulling di gruppo e’ durato circa un’ora con un sentito sottofondo musicale di 12 percussionisti.

Le sospensioni corporali come ogni anno si sono tenute indoor outdoor sotto gli alberi e infine anche direttamente in mare. Fortunatamente, nonostante fosse il penultimo weekend di settembre il tempo e’ stato bello e soleggiato con una temperatura estiva.

La crew era composta da 29 persone provenienti da diversi team: aptpi suspension team (italy), wings of desire (norway), superfly ( germany) e release flesh suspension team (usa).

Il tutto si e’ svolto in completa armonia tra i partecipanti e anche in quest’occasione si e’ potuto interagire sia a livello tecnico che artistico per elevare la conoscenza di queste procedure in sicurezza e sperimentando nuove possibilita’ di sospensione.

Vi aspettiamo per la 12ma edizione che si terra’ sempre a tirrenia il 18-19-20 settembre 2016.

—APTPI Staff

ITALIAN SUSCON 2015

(English Translation)

From the 20th–22nd of September 2015, in Tirrenia, Pisa, Italy, the Italian association of professional piercers and tattoo artists (A.P.T.P.I.) organised the 11th edition of Italian SusCon, a three day seminar on body suspension rituals. Italian SusCon 2015, as from previous editions, continued to attract a considerable number of participants, 75, coming from different parts of the world: Italy, Norway, USA, Israel and Germany.

Guest of honours of this year edition of Italian SusCon were: pioneer of body suspension Fakir Musafar and the neurologist Dr. Franco di Palma. Fakir Musafar (USA) father of modern suspension rituals and body modifications, for the first time in Italy, presented the personal journey that led him to experiment, develop and bring ancient body rituals to contemporary culture. Neurologist Franco di Palma, in his lecture entitled “The Pain”, explained the benefits of pain and how our brain reacts to it.

Sunset beach suspension at Italian SusCon 2016During Italian SusCon the crews suspended a total of 35 people. Thanks to Fakir Musafar’s participation, this edition of Italian SusCon, gained a more ritualistic and mystical atmosphere. The famous “Moon Dance” ritual, held on the beach at night, was attended by 40 people. After a collective prayer, each participant was inserted two chest hooks and given some time for a personal spiritual meditation. Then the group, queued to the beach at sunset, where each participant was hooked to a central circular ring, given the feeling that everyone was physically connected. The ritual of collective pulling was accompanied by twelve percussionists and lasted one hour.

The September weather in Italy during Italian SusCon 2015 was warm and sunny allowing indoor and outdoor on trees and on the sea!

The Italian SusCon 2015 crew of 29 featured members from: A.P.T.P.I. Suspension Team (Italy), Wings of Desire (Norway), Superfly (Germany), and Release Flesh Suspension Team (USA).

img688Italian SusCon 2015 fostered complete harmony between the participants and allowed them to interact and exchange both technical and artistic skills and expertise to extend the knowledge of body suspension procedures safely and to experiment with new possibilities.

We look forward to seeing you for the 12th edition that will be in Tirrenia again on 18th–20th September, 2016.

—APTPI Staff